April 1, 2012
TUCSON, Ariz. - The 13th-ranked Stanford softball team fell in a 3-1 contest at No. 19 Arizona, Sunday, at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. The Cardinal drops to 27-8 overall and 1-5 in the conference, while the Wildcats improve to 23-9 overall and to 2-4 in the Pac-12.
Junior pitcher Teagan Gerhart took the loss in the circle, falling to 22-4 overall. She finished with seven strikeouts and allowed two earned runs on five hits. Arizona's Shelby Babcock improved to 12-6 on the year and tallied seven strikeouts in the win.
Arizona struck first as freshman shortstop Shelby Pendley hit a solo home run to right field to lead off the second inning for the `Cats. However, it was an unearned run due to an error called on Stanford catcher Maya Burns who dropped a foul ball on the second pitch.
Rookie Cassandra Roulund tied the game in the top of the fourth as she led off the inning with a solo home run to left centerfield. It is the first long ball of her career as four of her six hits this season have gone for extra bases.
The Wildcats broke the tie in the bottom of the fourth as catcher Lini Koria hit a two-run shot to centerfield giving Arizona the 3-1 advantage.
The Cardinal returns to The Farm next week to play host to the Oregon Ducks, Thursday-Saturday Apr. 5-7. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and at Noon on Saturday at Smith Family Stadium.